August 27, 2014

We miss you, Ginger Man.I hope you've been welcomed over the Rainbow Bridgeby Virgil and Izzy.Go play, silly boy.I'll leave you with the following 1981 video of Jimmy Stewart reading a tribute poem about his dog, a Golden Retriever named Beau.There was no greater love than between Henry and a tennis ball.Hug your fur babies extra tight today and throw a ball for Henry, the Ginger Ninja.

August 19, 2014

If you don't know her, she has one of the prettiest shabby chic homes in blogland.

She's so sweet and and her home is so inviting.

I can only dream of living in a white house!

She's also mom to Bailey, Bruce's pretend girlfriend in blogland.

1. What am I working on?I'm currently trying to sort thru vintage linens to add to my online shop.

My embroidery machine is humming away!

I have three pieces of unfinished furniture waiting on me, three custom jobs to complete, and a house full of slobbering dogs

I should be mopping.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

If anyone can tell me what genre that is, I'd be happy to answer that question!

I have no focus on one thing. I'm aware that it's advised by the pros, but that's just not me. I love the writing aspect of blogging but love getting behind the camera lens even more.I spend hours each week taking photographs. You'll find just about anything on my blog...life stories, my projects, silly animal photos or found objects that I want to share with all of you who "get it".

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

Growing up I was influenced by a large number of family members who were artistic.

Artists, musicians, crafters...everyone used their hands in some way in the creative process.

The environment was rich for soaking up all kinds of creative energy.

Summers spent with my grandparents led to my love of nature and animals.

My mom and aunts were always in the kitchen cooking, sewing and most times singing.

My architect/artist dad was at his drafting table.

A huge influence was my DIY grandmother.

She constantly encouraged me to create.

I learned to sew and embroider as a child.

I wrote constantly and was an avid reader.

I guess that's why my interests are so varied.

I picked up something from everyone.

I like that my words and photos will be left behind for my

future generations of family- that they'll be able to know me by what I did here.

I wish that generations before us had left more pieces of themselves behind-

more words, more journals, more photos.

More everything.

4. How does your writing/ creating process work?

I don't really have a process. I don't feel that it's something I have control over.

It just lives inside me.

I get joy from creating, it's who I am. Who I've always been.

That's why I love the friendship and inspiration from blogging.

No explanation for our crazy needed here!

Now I'd like to introduce you to two other blog friends who I really think you'll love.

August 15, 2014

Last year I went wild over the special edition blue Ball jars, remember?

This year I went wild over the new green!It's a beautiful fresh, crisp green.Of course I bought several cases.

If you haven't been bitten by the Ball jar bug, this is your chance to win a fantasticprize package of Special Edition Green pint jars, quart jars and some wonderful new products to make our lives easier in the kitchen.

I was contacted to participate and was provided with these products.I assure you that these opinions are mine.Is there anyone who doesn't love Ball jars?Not in my world.I not only use them for our every day drinking glasses, but I store so manythings in them because let's face it...they are pretty.Do I want Magoo to have a bright yellow box on his nightstand?No, I do not.

Since I do grow a few of my own herbs,I'm excited about these dried herb containers with shaker tops.Easy to store and this shaker top isn't going to fall off and ruin your dinner.That may have happened to me.Several times.

I'll tell you that I own two different types of herb scissors already.

This pair is so much bigger!

They also come with a blade cover that doubles as a blade cleaner for those five blades.

Safety first, people.

And I have evidently been wasting precious time in the kitchen using a single blade.

These are really great.

I haven't received the other products yet, but I am really looking forward to using them.

Last year while browsing Pinterest, I discovered that you can freeze your herbs in olive oil.

This excited me to no end, seriously.

I cook a lot.

I was loving the idea of having fresh herbs in the freezer ready to throw into my soup pot.

But what was I going to keep them in?

Those big plastic ice trays would be knocked over in a second in this house.

I'd buy a new freezer before I cleaned up that oily mess.

Thank you clever minds at Ball.

I can rest easy knowing that these are on the way.

And they have lids!

Hello fresh Meyer Lemon, butter and thyme.

They'll be ready this winter and so will I.

So, the second reason for this post is this:

On Saturday August
16, Jarden Home Brands will host the first annual

International Can-It-Forward
Day with special guest renowned chef and

Bravo’s Top Chef judge, Hugh
Acheson!

A day to celebrate home canning, International Can-It-Forward Day
allows food enthusiasts to connect via a variety of online and in-person
activities.

taking place on
ground in Brooklyn Borough Hall Farmers Market, filled with canning demos where
viewer questions will be answered in real-time by Chef Acheson and other experts
while they learn the most popular (and delicious) home canning recipes.

Twenty
five farmers markets across the country will also be hosting

Can-It-Forward Day
celebrations!

In addition to the
canning demos, there will also be segments on crafting, herb gardening

and the
brand’s new drinkware line!

We will also be attempting a Guinness World
Record for the World’s Largest Mason Jar Mosaic!

DETAILS:

Watch the live webcast of canning demonstrations featuring celebrity chef by Hugh Acheson

Join us for the taping of the live webcast with Hugh Acheson in New York City at Brooklyn Borough Hall starting at 10a on 8/16/14

Items will be limited in number, as I am only one woman with a machine.

There will always be something new...from vintage finds to whatever I felt like making that week.
When it's gone, it's gone...unless stated otherwise.

No schedule, no pressure, no mass orders.

(Yes, that IS a chicken with it's head chopped off...or rather chewed off. Bruuuuce!)

Yes, I'm embracing the true "Nothing Will Happen" spirit here because
I want this to be be fun for all of us.
I have a busy life that is sometimes really stressful- just like most of you.

I'm not here to get rich or famous- I just enjoy making pretty things.
I enjoy the hunt for unique and interesting finds and the stories that come with them.
I hope you will enjoy what I share with you.
It's from the heart.
And from a very overloaded stash in my sewing room. ;)

Come by this evening if you have a minute!
If you see something you like, just email me the item number and
I will invoice you thru PayPal.
Shipping is included in the posted prices.
I want The Keeping Room to be for us - our community of crazy, artsy fartsy women (and a few men).
So enjoy!

August 4, 2014

Today I sat down to make a pillow.
Just a fast and easy 10 minute pillow.

Not in my sewing room- I didn't want to risk a broken leg navigating to the sewing table.

I chose to sit at our large round table in the kitchen where I could catch up on The Bachelorette

and listen for the dryer beep.

I can see the entire street from my viewpoint.

I can see that police officers are at the house down the street.

It's for sale.

A quick call to The Grapevine and I learn that SQUATTERS have moved in to the house illegally.

WTH?

The realtor is beside himself, the squatter presented the keys to the police, the police left.

WTH? again.

My next update from The Grapevine reveals that the squatters broke the lock box to obtain those keys.

The PoPo returned with back up.

But Mr. Squat had driven away in his Escalade.

Oh no.

My last update from The Grapevine was that she was walking over with her coffee to get some answers.

She hasn't called me back yet so I'll have to update you later.

But this is a reminder that these jerks still exist in this day and age

and not just in an old episode of Big Valley.

(Which is the last time I heard anyone use the term squatters.)

The other concerning thing that I witnessed today was a toothpaste commercial

about a daughter studying to be a dental hygenist. She was advising her father on toothpaste.

Because of his daughter's inspirational commentary,

the man's mouth has "really been brought to the next level".

WTH? again.

What does that even mean? And that guy is way too happy about this lifechanger.

Did he brush with dirt before?

I am put off by this and do not buy this baloney.

If he wants his mouth taken to the next level, toothpaste ain't the way go.

Try some Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Brownie, weirdo.

Yeah. Next. Level.

Bam.

Ok, back to the pillow.

I made my pattern using PicMonkey, printed it out on a LaserJet printer, used Citrasolve
for transferring onto the fabric and stitched it up in no time.
I call these disposable pillows.
I made this one from old linen curtains that had sun damage
and then backed it with blue and cream ticking from my stash.
There really is no need to pay high prices for these popular pillows.

You can do it yourself. Yes, you.
Yes, you can. Yes, you can. Yes, you can.
Stop sassing me.

Bruce loves to lay on the couches in the house and some heathens may even eat on them.
I feel much better with quick and inexpensive changes.
Those creamy pillows on either side?
Ikea.
For $10 each (the covers), there's no need to cry when furry beasts
do their smooshing and digging in the white summery pillows.
They wash up easily and "the disposable" will be repurposed somewhere else.
Dill pickle chips, anyone?